Management Issues reports that US small businesses are kind of optimistic about their prospects in 2006 in that they expect to hire more workers and pay them more money.
More than two thirds - 68 per cent - expect to grow faster than they did in 2005.
Small businesses need to think about how they integrate new workers into the team. Big businesses have formal induction processes and expensive team building programmes to help them create productive teams. Small businesses often don't have the time or resources to create fancy handbooks but that doesn't mean they don't need to do some of the same things.
Collaboration software such as Softalk Collaboration Suite, OfficeTalk or Softalk Organizer is only part of the jigsaw of getting your team to work better together.
You don't need to spend a fortune on expensive team-building programmes. How about volunteering to do some useful in your local community? Get the team out of the office to help decorate a community room for older people. Or help some youngsters to clean-up the local park and maybe paint the railings.
Volunteering is great for helping your team bond and what better way than helping people in need? You get a kick out of it and so do the people you're helping. It doesn't need to cost a fortune and you could consider spending the money that normally goes on corporate holiday gifts and cards.
If you don't know how go about it then try contacting an organisation such as Business in the Community (UK) or United Way (USA).
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